Axis 360 now enforcing the use of their app for e-book reading

[issybird]

This makes me think I should start throwing my audiobook business to Downpour and build a library of DRM-free audiobooks while I can. When dry, I listen to audiobooks with apps, but I am devoted to my waterproof MP3 player while swimming. OverDrive has filled my needs for content, but I'll be bereft if a sudden shift leaves me high and dry, so to speak. And download my Downpour books to boot; I don't think they'll disappear, but it's hardly impossible that I'd wake up one morning to learn that Amazon/Audible had absorbed Downpour and DRMed my library overnight.

I know I could go the waterproof case route if I had to, but I really prefer the form factor of my tiny and elegant Aerb which clips to my bathing suit

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by issybird

This makes me think I should start throwing my audiobook business to Downpour and build a library of DRM-free audiobooks while I can. When dry, I listen to audiobooks with apps, but I am devoted to my waterproof MP3 player while swimming. OverDrive has filled my needs for content, but I'll be bereft if a sudden shift leaves me high and dry, so to speak. And download my Downpour books to boot; I don't think they'll disappear, but it's hardly impossible that I'd wake up one morning to learn that Amazon/Audible had absorbed Downpour and DRMed my library overnight.

I know I could go the waterproof case route if I had to, but I really prefer the form factor of my tiny and elegant Aerb which clips to my bathing suit

That's a good plan.

I find that portable hard drive prices have dropped a lot since I was Las backing things up.
I think I am going to back up my music and ebook libraries again and d send the copy off to my sister in Tennessee. Then I am covered even if something happened to the house.

How much is the Aerb? I have been using SanDisk players because if they die I plug the MicroSD card into a new one and all my playlist are ready to go.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Phogg

How much is the Aerb? I have been using SanDisk players because if they die I plug the MicroSD card into a new one and all my playlist are ready to go.

I spent about $40 on the Aerb at Amazon. It doesn't have nearly the functionality of the SanDisk players; you can only adjust the volume and jump to the breaks and the same button does both (if you're not careful, the wrong press will jump ahead instead of increasing the volume, thus losing your place). But it's small and sleek and feels sturdier than the rather flimsy ClipZips and has worked flawlessly for me through two summers' swimming. It was a life-altering device for me and that's not hyperbole.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by issybird

This makes me think I should start throwing my audiobook business to Downpour and build a library of DRM-free audiobooks while I can.

Tantor also sells MP3 DRM-free audiobooks, and regularly has $6.99 download sales. I think this month's it's all romance downloads for $6.99.

They are incredibly inconsistent within book series whether a book can be downloaded, I will admit.

[Sydney's Mom]

One of my libraries (IL State) just went this way. I actually checked out a book (it looked like epub) but there was no download button. If I cannot convert it through calibre, I won't be reading it, because I only read on my kindle. Too bad, because I usually found books on that site that had really long waiting lists for my local library.

[Edward_R]

King County Library System (Wa. State) is still using Overdrive for eBooks & Audiobooks. Axis 360 has completely disappeared from their website.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Edward_R

King County Library System (Wa. State) is still using Overdrive for eBooks & Audiobooks. Axis 360 has completely disappeared from their website.

[Freehunter]

May be some hope for libraries. (Found link from Paul Biba's twitter.)

From Michael Kozlowski at GoodEreader:

"So are e-readers completely dead to B&T? Maybe not, I heard there is a manual activation service that a library specifically has to enroll in to support e-readers. Once this legacy system is activated patrons will have the option to checkout materials in EPUB or PDF formats from the library’s Axis 360 website and, in their accustomed routine, download content to Adobe Digital Editions on their computer and synch files to their e-readers. It is important to note that this service to support popular e-book formats is not turned on by default anymore."

http://goodereader.com/blog/digital-...with-e-readers

Now if only the report is true. Question may be how long the legacy system will be supported.

[jhowell]

I see that EPUBs are now back at the OCLS (Orange County Florida) Axis 360 site.

[dandelioncottage]

I emailed OCLS about it this morning, and they both emailed and left me a voice mail to say they would reinstate EPUBs. Probably other MobileReaders contacted them as well.

Now to contact the other libraries I have cards for.

Originally Posted by jhowell

I see that EPUBs are now back at the OCLS (Orange County Florida) Axis 360 site.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Freehunter

May be some hope for libraries. (Found link from Paul Biba's twitter.)

From Michael Kozlowski at GoodEreader:

"So are e-readers completely dead to B&T? Maybe not, I heard there is a manual activation service that a library specifically has to enroll in to support e-readers. Once this legacy system is activated patrons will have the option to checkout materials in EPUB or PDF formats from the library’s Axis 360 website and, in their accustomed routine, download content to Adobe Digital Editions on their computer and synch files to their e-readers. It is important to note that this service to support popular e-book formats is not turned on by default anymore."

http://goodereader.com/blog/digital-...with-e-readers

Now if only the report is true. Question may be how long the legacy system will be supported.

This has me in a state of mild shock.

Nate @ the-digital-ereader.com didn't write about this at all, and Goodereader looks like they have an original scoop?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

This has me in a state of mild shock.

Nate @ the-digital-ereader.com didn't write about this at all, and Goodereader looks like they have an original scoop?

It didn't strike me as much of a story.

Those fools initially reported that Axis360 was dropping ereader support, but I had been told by a librarian and by B&T that Epub downloads were still optionally supported. That struck me as a relatively minor technical issue, so I mentioned it here and went on to other things.

Or at least I thought I left a comment here. Now it's gone. Weird.

[eschwartz]

Well, you must have forgotten to mention it.

And goodereader clearly didn't steal the info from you, which means for once they were original -- or at least more imaginative! casting out their net further???

[pjmpjm]

My local library (Blue Mountains Library in Australia) uses Axis360, but the app doesn't work for me, telling me that I have to first download at least one book directly from the library before it can accept me. But I've downloaded more than 10 books over the past week. Still no response from the app. Not a big problem, since I can download directly from the library, but it would be nice to have the app working. Anyone else encounter this problem?

[darryl]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I took a quick look at the new Axis 360 app and it appears to use the Blio format, along with the Blio DRM system, for e-books.

There seems to be a general consensus that removal of DRM from library ebooks should be discouraged, and even the DRM removal tools do not support it. This is a very reasonable position given that people are able to read their library books on e-ink readers, though less so outside of the United States where Kindles are excluded. However, this position may have to change. If libraries are going to limit reading to their own apps and therefore essentially to Android and IOS, excluding e-ink readers, then DRM removal tools for these formats become very desirable.

I gather DRM on Blio has not been cracked?